Lightning-rod structure.



J. E. CURTI.

LIGHTNING ROD STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 1915- Patented Feb. 6, 1917 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. CURTI, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

LIGHTNING-ROD STRUCTURE.

Application filed April 3,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. CUn'rI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lightning-Rod Structures, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to a lightning rod structure, and has for its principal object to provide a coupling for connecting the standard with the horizontal cable, which will be of simple construction, so that it may be economically manufactured, may be conveniently applied, and will be effective in use for firmly connecting the parts.-

The invention also has reference to the provision of a standard having a bifurcated terminal. to form an outwardly divergent base which operates to advantage for bracing or supporting the standard, and for conducting electrical charges from the standard to the cable.

With the foregoing objects in view the invention presents a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the coupling applied to a standard and cable. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the standard mounted on the cable, both being broken away, a housing or jacket for connecting these parts being shown in section, with its flanges extended. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the cable on line 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 3, the flanges being extended. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a plate employed to form a jacket or housing for connecting the cable and standard. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail showing a modified form for the secondary prongs.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, numeral 6 indicates a standard used as an electrical conductor and which is disposed at right angles to the cable 7 which is disposed horizontally and also used as an electrical conductor. The standard is of tubular form and is constructed of sheet metal.

For purposes of the invention, the lower part of the tubular standard is incised longitudinally and flattened to provide two prongs 8 and 9, each prong being incised Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

Serial No. 88,610.

longitudinally at its end to provide a footpiece or pair of secondary prongs l0 and 11 for a seating stridingly upon the cable 7. The prongs 10 and 11 may be seated upon the upper part of the cable, or as shown. in Fig. 6, may nearly circumscribe said cable. The prongs 8 and 9 are disposed outwardly divergent so that the secondary prongs for each of the first named prongs are located a considerable distance from each other, comparatively, and the inclination of the prongs 8 and 9 is uniform with reference to the axis of the standard. It will be appreciated by those conversant with the art that the divergent prongs 8 and 9 discharge the function of resisting to great advantage all stresses directed in line with the cable and transversely of the standard, as for instance, the action of high winds or accidentally incurred stresses, an important second function discharged by these prongs being that an electrical current will be more readily conducted on said inclined prongs, from the standard to the cable, than it would at a light angle.

To provide a holder which may be constructed at a limited expense and which may be readily applied, the elongated, metallic plate 12 is employed. It is formed outwardly convergent toward its ends, and is provided with apertures 13. It is bent intermediate its ends to provide a loop 14; to embrace the secondary prongs 10 and 11 and the lower side of the cable, and to provide a pair of side plates 15 and 16, each of the side plates having flanges 17 and recesses 18 arranged in pairs, a flange 17 of each pair being disposed opposite to a recess 18.

In operation, after the standard has been disposed with its prongs 10 and 11 engaging the cable, the plate 12, having been bent to form the clamping device as described, is applied in the manner above mentioned,

the two convergent side plates of the device being disposed at the sides and in engagement with the fiat prongs 8 and 9, and the flanges 17 may be then bent transversely, by use of a pair of pincers or a similar tool, the flanges 17 of each side plate being disposed in an adjacent recess 18 of a side plate, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, afterward a stove bolt 19 or similar keeper is passed through the apertures 13 as an additional means for securing the ends of the side plates.

It will be understood that the important feature in the use of the divergent prongs 8 and 9, aside from the fact that they are disposed in line with the cable for resisting stresses to advantage, is that they are disposed inclinedly from the standard to the cable to facilitate conducting an electric current; and while I have shown secondary prongs 10 and 11 for engaging the cable, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in this respect, and I may dispense with the secondary prongs in some in stances. Also I may employ any suitable material for constructing the parts and I may change the size and proportion of said parts.

Having fully described construction, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. in a lightning rod structure, a hori-' zontal cable, a metallic, tubular standard flattened adjacent its lower end and having said flattened portion incised longitudinally to provide prongs and secondary prongs at the tern'iinals oi the first named prongs, said standard being disposed vertically with its secondary prongs in engagement with the cable, an elongated, metallic housing plate bent midway between its ends to provide a part for embracing the cable and secondary prongs and having opposed, convergent ends for embracing the first named prongs, and a plurality of fastening devices at the opposed edges of the convergent ends of said housing plate in engagement with the first named prongs.

In a lightning rod structure, the combination with a cable and a metallic tubular standard having terminal, divergent prongs disposed in line with and engaging the cable, 01" a housing plate bent midway between its ends to provice a part for embracing the cable and. having opposed, convergent ends for embracing the prongs, and a plurality o't fastening devices at the opposed edges of the con ."ergent ends of said housing plate in engagement with said prongs.

3. In a lightning rod structure, a cable, a metallic-tubular member having outwardly divergent prongs at one of its ends and disposed transversely of the cable its prongs being in line with and engaging said cable, and a metallic, elongated plate having convergent end-portions provided with recesses and flanges, said plate being bent midway between its ends to provide a loop for engaging the cable and to provide a pair of side members for engaging the prongs, the flanges of each side member being adapted to be disposed in the recesses of the other side member.

a. In a lightning rod structure, a horizontal cable, ametallic, tubular member incised longitudinally to provide a pair ct outwardly divergent prongs and secondary prongs at the terminals of the first named prongs, said tubular member being disposed transversely of the cable, its secondary pron s being disposed. stridingly upon and its first named prongs being disposed in line with said cable, a metallic, elongated plate having convergent end-portions provided with recesses and flanges, said plate being bent midway between its ends to provide a loop for engaging the cable and secondary prongs and to provide a pair of side members for engaging the first named prongs, the flanges of a side member en aging in the recesses oi? the other side member, and a keeper traversing the side members of said elongated plate.

5. In a lightning rod structure, a horizontal cable, a metallic, tubular member flattened adjacent to its lower end and having said flattened portion incised longitudinally to provide a pair of outwardly divergent prongs and secondary prongs at the terminals of the first named prongs, and an elongated plate formed convergent at its ends and provided with a plurality of flanges and recesses, said plate being bent to provide a pair of side members for embracing the cable and prongs after the tubular member has been disposed vertically with its secondary prongs in engagement with the cable, the flanges of one side member engaging in the recesses of the other side men'iber.

In testimony whereof, I have aliixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JQHN E. CURTI.

Witnesses l'inmM A. S'rnncns, ARTHUR H. Srnnens.

Copier. of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

